England Roses won the opening game of the Vitality International Series, 50-46, against Uganda.

In a high intensity game played on Tuesday night at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, the Roses were better, especially defensively, in the first half of the game forcing the Ugandans to deviate from their natural short passing game, opting for the long passes, many of which were intercepted.

Roses Wing Defender Jade Clarke and Center player Serena Guthrie made it difficult for Ruth Meeme and Halima Nakachwa to make entry passes into the circle to shooters Peace Proscovia and Rachael Nanyonga who combined well.

Eboni Usoro-Brown and Layla Guscoth played aggressively, and at times doubled up on Proscovia whenever Nanyonga stepped outside the circle.

Roses prevailed 15-8 and 15-13 in the first and second quarter, thanks largely to Natalie Haythornthwaite outsmarting Muhayimina Namuwaya. The Roses Wing Attack had excellent vision all night and picked out shooters Helen Housby, Rachel Dunn and George Fisher at will.

She Cranes had good defensive pressure in the third quarter and early in the fourth. While they managed just 10 goals the limited Roses to 8 in the third quarter.

The African champions plugged away at the gap and the strong spell ended with the game tied at 43, just over the midway point of the fourth quarter.

However, two poor passes from the She Cranes gifted Roses with two possessions and they scored on all to a assume the lead and the Ugandans never recovered, eventually falling short by four goals, 50-46.

The three-match series continues on Friday, November 30 with the first center pass to be played at 10 pm (EAT).